Emergency Reunion by Sandra Orchard Page A

find attractive.
    â€œThat’s right.” He pushed his cup toward the pot in her hand.
    â€œWhat can I get you boys?” she asked as she filled both mugs.
    â€œA couple of the specials,” Cole ordered to expedite her exit.
    â€œTwo specials coming up.” She winked and flounced away, leaving a trail of fragrance lingering behind her.
    Eddie snagged the sugar dispenser and dosed his coffee with a steady stream. “Still a chick magnet, I see.”
    Cole popped a couple of ibuprofen to take the edge off the headache that had returned with a vengeance thanks to their scuffle, and tried to decide if he heard derision or jealousy in Eddie’s tone. Probably a little of both. If Eddie spent half his time tripping out, Cole couldn’t imagine too many girls being interested in hanging with him. At least no one who wasn’t stoned herself.
    Eddie stirred his coffee so hard it swirled over the brim. “C’mon, why don’t you just get the lecture over so we can both go home?”
    â€œYou expect me to believe you came here to apologize to Sherri?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œThe guy who lured you to the drug house didn’t send you here?”
    â€œWhat? No!”
    Cole exhaled, unfortunately believing him, which meant he was back to square one. “Okay, I’m sorry I doubted you. I’m afraid we didn’t get off to a good start, but believe it or not, I came back to Stalwart because I want to spend time with you, not lecture you.”
    â€œDon’t do me any favors. I got over my case of big brother worship a long time ago.”
    Yeah, Eddie hadn’t appreciated Cole’s opinion on his choice of who to live with after the divorce. Almost a year had passed before they’d even talked to each other again. “I’m sorry. I was wrong to stay away so long. I’m hoping we can make up for lost time.”
    Eddie snorted. “Face-planting me into the sidewalk is a great way to start.” He lifted his mug in a toast. “Thanks.”
    The waitress slipped their soup bowls onto the table, allowing him to let the remark pass without comment. Clearly it would take a lot more than a few shared dinners to chisel that boulder-sized chip from Eddie’s shoulder.
    Sirens cut through the silence. An ambulance whipped out the bay next door, but with hedges blocking a good part of the view, Cole couldn’t tell if Sherri was inside. He breathed a silent prayer for her protection that only partially quelled the urgent desire to follow the ambulance and do the job himself. Okay, time to stop worrying about treading on his brother’s feelings. He locked gazes with Eddie. “If you want me to trust you, you need to be straight with me. ’Cause I’ll tell you, across the street is an office full of deputies that think you should be sitting in jail. Are you stalking Sherri?”
    â€œWhat?” Eddie’s head jolted back, his eyes wide with shock that looked pretty believable, unless it was shock that Cole had clued into his double life. If Eddie was trying to exact revenge for the way Cole had ignored him, terrorizing Sherri was a sickeningly smart way to go.
    â€œYou heard me,” Cole said through gritted teeth, not wanting to believe the worst about Eddie despite appearances.
    â€œNo, man, I just needed a fix.” He raked his fingers through his hair. “I thought you of all people would believe me.”
    â€œI want to, Eddie. But you’re not giving me anything to go on. You say some guy told you to do these things, but you don’t have a name, a location and scarcely a description. And her partner’s got it in for you now.” Cole had checked the guy’s background. A former army medic, the man had a little too much righteous warrior in him for Cole’s comfort level.
    â€œI’m telling you, that day in the ambulance is the first time I’d seen her in, like—” he hesitated,